Employment Services
Career Navigation, Resume Assistance, Interview Preparation, Job Placement, and Workforce Readiness — the full job-search stack with a COD Case Manager.
Mock interviews and interview-skill coaching tailored to your target role.
Direct connections to COD employer partners with warm handoffs and retention support.
Workplace expectations, soft-skill coaching, and retention support for new and returning workers.
One-on-one navigation with a COD Case Manager — assess fit, sequence credentials, and connect to employer partners.
Resume writing, formatting, and ATS optimization with a COD Case Manager.
Employment Requirements
Fingerprinting, Background Checks, and PERC Assistance — the documents and clearances Chicago employers ask for.
Help applying for and obtaining an Illinois Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC) — required for security roles and many regulated occupations.
Pre-employment background screening and record review. When relief is available we connect you to it.
Live Scan / FBI fingerprinting for licensing, employment, and certification requirements.
Certifications
CPR/BLS, First Aid, Food Handler, Food Manager, ServSafe Alcohol, and Security Training — job-required credentials delivered quickly.
American Heart Association CPR / Basic Life Support certification. Required for healthcare, childcare, security, and many education roles.
Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification (FSSMC) — required at every IL food establishment.
BASSET-equivalent ServSafe Alcohol training — required for serving alcohol in Illinois venues.
AHA or Red Cross First Aid training. Pairs naturally with CPR/BLS for healthcare and childcare roles.
Illinois 20-hour unarmed security officer training. Pathway to armed-security training where appropriate.
Illinois Food Handler certification required for any role handling unpackaged food.
Healthcare Pathways
CNA, PCT, Phlebotomy, EKG, Medical Coding & Billing, Home Care Aide, and Healthcare Career Navigation.
CNA + phlebotomy + EKG bundled into a Patient Care Technician credential.
Home care aide training and placement — community-based care with flexible scheduling.
Sequenced entry into Chicago healthcare with a Case Manager — pick the right credential and the right employer.
State-approved CNA training and certification with COD scholarship support and employer placement.
Phlebotomy technician training and certification — entry to lab and clinical settings.
EKG / cardiac monitor technician training and certification.
CPC-eligible medical coding and billing training — remote-friendly healthcare career path.
Business Services
Government Contract Accelerator, Business Formation Support, Capability Statements, Vendor Registration, and Procurement Readiness.
Help Chicago small businesses register, certify (MBE/WBE/DBE), and pursue City of Chicago, Cook County, State, and federal contracting opportunities.
Hands-on help registering with City, County, State, and federal vendor portals (SAM.gov, BIP, Cook County, IL.gov).
Pricing, compliance, and bid-submission coaching to win and deliver government contracts.
LLC/Corp formation, EIN, IL business registration, BOI compliance, first-year operating support.
Bid-ready capability statement development for contracting opportunities.
Community Services
Housing Navigation, Public Benefits Navigation, Behavioral Health Navigation, and Community Resource Referrals.
Eviction prevention, emergency rental assistance referral, voucher navigation, and stable-housing planning across Cook County.
Warm referral to vetted behavioral health, substance-use, and family-counseling providers. COD does not provide clinical services directly.
SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, LIHEAP, WIC, and IL benefit-program enrollment and recertification support.
Coordinated, warm referrals to trusted Chicago community partners across food, transportation, childcare, and family support.